Arlene Holmes, the mother of Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes, has suggested that ABC News mischaracterized her when it reported that her initial statement to the reporter, "you have the right person," was a reference to her son.

"This statement is to clarify a statement made by ABC media. I was awakened by a call from a reporter by ABC on July 20 about 5:45 in the morning. I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time," Holmes said in a statement this afternoon, read to the national press by attorney Lisa Damiani. "He asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself."

"I asked him to tell me why he was calling and he told me about a shooting in Aurora," she continues. "He asked for a comment. I told him I could not comment because I did not know if the person he was talking about was my son, and I would need to find out."

In the first paragraph of its initial report on Friday, ABC News reported that it had identified the correct James Holmes because his mother "told ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, saying, 'You have the right person.'"

If Arlene Holmes' latest statement is true, it means that she did not tell ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, calling into question the reporting of a network that has already been marred by one inaccuracy.

I didn’t think her statement made much sense under the circumstances. Her clarification does, though. ABC deserves to go bankrupt, especially with the crap they push on the so-called ABC Family. Wouldn’t miss them a bit.

Id be curious to know if James parents knew or anticipated that he would do something like this. Obviously, James is responsible but his mother knows her son was a powder keg. Was your son an OWS black bloc groupie? would be a good question to ask her.

23 posted on 07/22/2012 1:48:03 PM PDT by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost

58
posted on 07/23/2012 5:29:30 PM PDT
by IbJensen
(If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)

Please don't waste your time answering my last question. You are making an implication about my younger brother that is a Christian preacher. I have no more time nor interest in any further conversation with you.

If ABC wants to bring politics into this incident, they would do better to ask why Jimmy Carter began to process of defunding and closing down State Mental Hospitals nationwide. For all intents and purposes, Jimmy Carter created street people. Those who were once institutionalized are now living on the streets and roaming free like James Holmes to beg, kill and maim. The criteria for admission to these institutions were that the person was either incapable of caring for him/herself, a danger to him/herself, or a danger to others. James fell into category #3 and, in another era, may have been put away but now, thanks to Jimmy, parents like Jimmy’s have no recourse and no help. While our taxes have gone through the moon, this is just one more service that has been discontinued.

"Obviously, James is responsible but his mother knows her son was a powder keg." - GeorgeWashingtonsGhost

Perhaps, like GeorgeWashingtonsGhost, many have drawn some inference from the false information spread by ABC news. This sick man's mother likely had no idea whatsoever that her son would go off the rails and kill as he did. Read about it, it is here on FR.

Now, you both look worse than this mother does - give it a rest, take it elsewhere on the net. But drop it here.

As promised to you in my reply to your objection to my private freepmail:

“I dont know what you said, it was deleted before I read this thread.

I was curious, so I went back through your posts and found a parental responsibility related thread, and this post of yours:

Mrs. Pitts is a lady of honor; her son is the pitts. 

Mr. and Mrs Holmes are likely enduring a level of parental hell that equals or even exceeds the pain of the death of their child.

You desperately need to sip from the cup of STFU, and step away from the keyboard.”

So IbJensen, here is my promised very public responce to your "presumed to be vicious attack" against a Mrs. Holmes.

STFU! Yes, this is FreeRepublic, and yes, most of us stand by our words. You, sir or madamn, have overplayed your hand in a game you don't understand, but think others are playing. I hope you invite me to your heartfelt OPUS. I will, of course, not deign to acknowledge your passing. ROTFLMAO!

Most everyone are blown away at events such as this. It's just horrifying.

But when ya got all kinds of people, from all political corners attempting to assign the bad guy to every group they happen to dislike, regardless of evidence is disturbing. Then pointing finger of blame at everyone else is distracting is just not reasonable.

I responded below to a comment last Saturday regarding what the shooters Mother said:

________________________________________________________

""Usually when something like this happens the parents are always in complete denial but not this mother, she knew right away with Yeah you have the right guy. Not an ounce of surprise from her""

This likely occurred when they contacted her, attempting to confirm his ID through her, describing him, his place of residence, car etc, with her likely saying, Yes, that's him.

I have to agree. I know of a couple who have done everything to get their mid-20s, mentally ill son back into his old, stressful job - which he left after suffering a psychotic break - because they don’t want him living in their house. That’s just not how they envisioned their lives going. I’m sad for their son’s illness, but the sympathy dissipated when I realized they do not care what risk and stress they heap upon the rest of society through their denial and selfishness.

I haven’t heard of Holmes being diagnosed as mentally ill, but his behavior in the courtroom was consistent with the side effects of psychotropic drugs.

I stated, apparently too boldly for other website moderates that the parents of this orange-haired killer bear some responsibility for what they created.

I pointed out that the cost in human life by this inhuman monster is catastrophic; however, when one considers the millions upon millions of dollars trying this creature through the courts, paying off the psychiatrists, and housing him for the rest of his unnatural life the crime becomes much larger.

I did, in fact, lay a lot of blame on the mother (and father) for this outrage against decent human beings.

93
posted on 07/24/2012 5:58:29 AM PDT
by IbJensen
(If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)

If Arlene Holmes' latest statement is true, it means that she did not tell ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, calling into question the reporting of a network that has already been marred by one inaccuracy.

It is worse than that. Not only did ABC get wrong her comment about having the right person.

Arlene Holmes says she specifically told ABC that she did not know if the shooter was her son. ABC intentionally refused NOT to report specific words with the mother denying knowledge that it was her son.

ABC had clarifying information all along and refused to broadcast it.

They are a joke.

96
posted on 07/24/2012 6:13:46 AM PDT
by xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)

If Arlene Holmes' latest statement is true, it means that she did not tell ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, calling into question the reporting of a network that has already been marred by one inaccuracy.

It is worse than that. Not only did ABC get wrong her comment about having the right person.

Arlene Holmes says she specifically told ABC that she did not know if the shooter was her son. ABC intentionally CHOSE NOT to report specific words with the mother denying knowledge that it was her son.

ABC had clarifying information all along and refused to broadcast it.

They are a joke.

97
posted on 07/24/2012 6:14:40 AM PDT
by xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)

In the case I know of, the doctors are complicit. If he were older, they’d declare him disabled, but because he’s in his 20s they want to roll the dice & hope he won’t turn violent. The parents know he isn’t “better” and they know how tough it is to interact with him. But they don’t want his condition discussed with his co-workers. So those who work with him are just flying blind.

I am surprised to see such PC bullying taking place on Free Republic. The posters are pre-occupied with seeing who can portray themselves as the most charitable, which seems phony and is boring to read, frankly. We
don’t know what the mother knew, but she’s a good candidate to know
something. ABC has proven it can’t be relied on as a source, but she also has a motive to re-write the conversation. Time will tell.

Inaccuracy? That’s what they’re calling ABC’s continual manipulation of fact? HA! Lawyers should use the ABC defense, “Your honor, my client did not lie under oath, his statement was merely inaccurate!”

99
posted on 07/24/2012 6:24:14 AM PDT
by liberalh8ter
(If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)

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